Home Blog Page 75

How Toronto Was Transformed Into New York For Meet Me Next Christmas

Tessa Smith
-
0
How Toronto Was Transformed Into New York For Meet Me Next Christmas

Christina Milian and Devale Ellis discuss how Tortonto was turned into New York City for their Netflix film Meet Me Next Christmas.

Meet Me Next Christmas follows Layla (Christina Milian) as she races through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert. All for a chance to reunite with Teddy (Devale Ellis), who could be the love of her life.

We spoke with stars Christina Milian and Devale Ellis about the streaming success of Meet Me Next Christmas. Both credit it to their fans, who they love and appreciate. The two also discuss how the studio turned Toronto into New York City.

Meet Me Next Christmas Transformed Toronto Into New York City

How Toronto Was Transformed Into New York For Meet Me Next Christmas
Meet Me Next Christmas. (L to R) Devale Ellis as Teddy and Christina Milian as Layla in Meet Me Next Christmas. Cr. Sophie Giraud/Netflix © 2024.

Tessa Smith: So you filmed in Toronto, not New York. What was that like?

Christina Milian: But you know what, Toronto, I’d been there as well before in another project and everybody’s so nice. It does give that city feel and actually, you can be a little bit more relaxed there, I think. 

Devale Ellis: Yeah, in Toronto it’s not as crowded.

Christina Milian: It still was cold, it was still snow. Even in March, April, that time of the year, but it was beautiful. We were by the water so it was a lot to see and a lot to discover when our families came to visit.

Devale Ellis: It was nice. It was beautiful.

How Toronto Was Transformed Into New York For Meet Me Next Christmas
Meet Me Next Christmas. (L to R) Christina Milian as Layla and Devale Ellis as Teddy in Meet Me Next Christmas. Cr. Marni Grossman/Netflix © 2024.

Tessa Smith: Did it feel like New York to you, while you were filming?

Devale Ellis: Well, being from New York originally, nothing feels like New York. You can’t really actually go down the subway, they just built a little subway thing that was on the ground. So that was kind of cool to see that. But they did a great job of making me feel like home. I’ll say that.

Christina Milian: I’ll tell you what, they made some room look like a Chanel store.

Devale Ellis: Yeah, that was true. It did.

Christina Milian: I was like, Chanel approved this? This is cool. They really have Chanel in the movie? So that whole scene inside of the store, I thought that was really cool. I felt like that looked like New York to me. 

Devale Ellis: It did, it did. It looked like Fifth Avenue.

Watch the full interview with Christina Milian and Devale Ellis to learn more about Meet Me Next Christmas.

Get yourself in the holiday spirit and stream Meet Me Next Christmas on Netflix now.

Meet Me Next Christmas poster

About Meet Me Next Christmas

In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

Meet Me Next Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.

NEXT: Hayden Jones On Creating The World Of Ultraman: Rising

Hayden Jones On Creating The World Of Ultraman: Rising

Tessa Smith
-
0
Hayden Jones On Creating The World Of Ultraman: Rising

VFX Supervisor Hayden Jones details how he and his team created the world of Ultraman: Rising, taking inspiration from previous iterations, and more.

Ultraman: Rising Movie review
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

Ultraman: Rising is a wonderful introduction into the world for those who do not know anything about Ultraman, and a great addition to the franchise for those that do. With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman.

Ultraman: Rising VFX Supervisor Hayden Jones describes how he first came onto the project, revealing that Writer/Director Shannon Tindle approached him asking two questions. 1. Do you think ILM would be interested in doing a feature animation? And 2. How much do you know about Ultraman? He admitted that the did not know much about Ultraman, but jumped at the chance to some feature animation.

“Growing up in the UK, we were Doctor Who. Ultraman never really got screened. But like all good shows, one of the best things about doing any visual effects show, is that you get to do a deep dive at the start,” Jones explains. He then goes on to say that how the technicalities of visual effects work in tandem with storytelling has always been a really interesting aspect of filmmaking for him.

Ultraman: Rising Movie review
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

“One of the things that really, really inspired me is the legacy. It felt like this whole world had been opened up. I remember, in that first meeting, Tom Knott, one of the producers, gave me, literally, a box of DVDs,” Jones details. “I dug in and watched as many series as I could, and it was like, wow, there was such a legacy here, and such a cultural heritage.”

He reveals that when starting any project, he wants to be sure to really honor what came before it. “We’re adding to it and we’re layering it in, but we’re always really respectful of where it’s been and where we can take it in the future.”

One of the aspects that the team knew they needed to get right was Tokyo. Since they could not visit the city, they looked to Google, researching street views of some streets in Tokyo. “What we wanted to do was create the feel and the vibe of where we thought the show could go. So making it colorful, getting that feeling of stylization.”

Ultraman: Rising Movie review
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

Hayden Jones wanted to make sure that Ultraman: Rising paid homage to some of the iconic moments in Ultraman as well. “There was so much richness in all of this artwork that we knew we were going to be referencing this every single step of the way.”

“We wanted to really make something that allowed Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima to have the most freedom as possible, so we didn’t want to bake anything in. We didn’t want it to only work from certain camera angles. So they could light a scene in whatever that way they wanted. They could put the camera wherever it was. They could animate the characters however they wanted, and the look of the show would would still work.” Hayden Jones explains.

Ultraman: Rising is streaming on Netfix. If you have not already seen it, be sure to check it out and see just how much detail and love went into making it as beautiful as it is.

NEXT: Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers Respond To Internet’s Thirst For Ken Sato

Ultraman: Rising Netflix movie poster

About Ultraman: Rising

With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans.

In partnership with Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic, Ultraman: Rising is written by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, directed by Shannon Tindle, and co-directed by John Aoshima.

Ultraman: Rising is now streaming on Netflix.

From Boomtown To Landman: Christian Wallace On New Series

Tessa Smith
-
0
From Boomtown To Landman: Christian Wallace On New Series

From Boomtown to Landman: Co-creator Christian Wallace talks incredible cast, collaborating with Taylor Sheridan, and more.

From Boomtown To Landman: Christian Wallace On New Series

Based on Christian Wallace’s 11-part Boomtown podcast, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. The series follows both roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy, and our geopolitics.

In this interview, Christian Wallace discusses the incredible Landman cast including Billy Bob Thornton and Ali Larter. He also reveals what it was like collaborating with Taylor Sheridan and how often he was on set. Wallace admits that this is a dream come true for him, as well.

Christian Wallace Talks New Paramount+ Series, Landman

From Boomtown To Landman: Christian Wallace On New Series
Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris in season 1, episode 3 of Landman streaming on Paramount+ Photo Credit: Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Tessa Smith: How did it feel when you were approached to have your podcast turned into a TV series?

Christian Wallace:  Pretty surreal, to be honest. You don’t get a call from Taylor Sheridan to work on something every day. But I’m extremely grateful that I did. The podcast came out five years ago. So it was a rather lengthy process with a pandemic and two strikes involved. But I’m very thankful to be sitting here talking to you now after all that.

Tessa Smith: What was it like collaborating with Taylor Sheridan for Landman?

Christian Wallace: I’ve wanted to work with him since he wrote Hell or High Water. I just knew if I ever had that chance, it would be incredible. And it has been because out of everyone working in the industry right now, I was like, if anyone’s going to turn this podcast into something worthwhile, it’s going to be him. I’m just so glad that it worked out the way it did. And he wrote this incredible series. It worked out the way it should have.

Tessa Smith: Let’s talk about the cast for a second. Billy Bob Thornton, to have him be the star of your show has to be, again, surreal, right? 

Christian Wallace: Exactly. I mean, it’s like when things work out the way they should and you just know it in your bones. To have Taylor and then Billy, the first time I met Billy, he was smoking a cigarette next to a dumpster on our first day of shooting. And of course, that’s where you meet Billy Bob Thornton.

He’s one of the guys, and he just embodied that character so well. The humor, the grit, the one liners, you just believe him in that role. Not everyone can pull that off by any means. People can sniff out that inauthenticity, and with Billy, he just nails it.

Tessa Smith: Can we talk about Ali Larter, too?

Christian Wallace: Ali is so good, too. She’s she’s funny. She’s sincere. She has this crazy range of just – she’s a very over the top Texas woman in this show, and she plays it so well .It’s so fun to watch, especially them two together, is really great.

Tessa Smith: How hands on were you in this adaptation of your podcast?

Christian Wallace: Taylor and I talked for two years before he actually started writing it. I would go to set when he was filming 1883, for instance, or go to Fort Worth and spend a couple of days hanging out and just just talking about people and stories, things that I had heard growing up, things I’d come across in my research, things that happened to me, and then he also had his own things that he was bringing to it. 

Stories he had heard, dealings he had had directly. So it was very collaborative in some ways. But then, of course, Taylor went off and wrote this thing and he killed it. I’m also really grateful that I got to be on set every single day that we shot. I was there like, well, guys, that pumpjack doesn’t look quite right or whatever.

They were teaching me about film and TV and I was teaching them about the oil field. That exchange was really fun. I feel like I may have come out ahead on that deal. I learned a lot. So anyway, it was very fun. I got to be involved with the props, the costumes, the locations.

I think that some of that, hopefully, gives the show just a little bit more of that texture of authenticity. 

Be sure to watch our interviews with the cast of Landman for more Billy Bob Thornton stories, behind the scenes details, and more.

NEXT: Spellbound Early Reactions Praise Rachel Zegler & Animation

Landman poster

About Landman

Set in the proverbial boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern-day tale of fortune seeking in the world of oil rigs. Based on the notable 11-part podcast “Boomtown,” the series is an upstairs/downstairs story of roughnecks and wildcat billionaires fueling a boom so big, it’s reshaping our climate, our economy and our geopolitics.

Landman premieres with two episodes on Sunday, November 17, 2024 exclusively on Paramount+.

Spellbound Early Reactions Praise Rachel Zegler & Animation

Tessa Smith
-
0
Spellbound Early Reactions Praise Rachel Zegler & Animation

Early reactions are in for Netflix’s Spellbound and they are overwhelmingly positive: praising Rachel Zegler, a powerful story, and stunning animation.

Spellbound Trailer: Visually Stunning Animated Fantasy Film
SPELLBOUND – Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2024

Critics have now seen Netflix’s new animated feature, Spellbound, which comes to the streaming service just in time for the holiday season, on November 22. Early reactions are extremely positive, praising Rachel Zegler (who voices Ellian), the stunning animation, a mature story, and powerful messages.

Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters.

Spellbound Trailer: Visually Stunning Animated Fantasy Film
SPELLBOUND – Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2024

Spellbound Boasts “Heartfelt Storytelling” & is “Beautifully Animated”

Critics state that the story brings an emotional and heartfelt story to the screen with stunning animation and fantastic songs by the one and only Alan Menken. It is unafraid to shy away from unhealthy family dynamics, allowing a lot of viewers to feel seen.

Spellbound Trailer: Visually Stunning Animated Fantasy Film
SPELLBOUND – Cr: Skydance Animation/Netflix © 2024

Rachel Zegler “Nails The Princess Role”

It should come as no surprise that Rachel Zegler is incredible in the lead role. Not only does she capture the princess vibes perfectly, she shows off her beautiful singing voice in song after song.

Spellbound comes exclusively to Netflix on November 22.

NEXT: Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers Respond To Internet’s Thirst For Ken Sato

Spellbound poster

About Spellbound

Spellbound follows the adventures of Ellian, the tenacious young daughter of the rulers of Lumbria who must go on a daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a mysterious spell transforms her parents into monsters.

Directed by Vicky Jenson (Shrek), featuring songs by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast), lyrics by Glenn Slater (Tangled), and starring Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), this is a dream come true for anyone longing to enter a magical new animated world.

Spellbound starts streaming exclusively on Netflix November 22.

Dune: Prophecy Review: A Worthy Addition To The Franchise

Tessa Smith
-
1
Dune: Prophecy Review: A Worthy Addition To The Franchise

Dune: Prophecy is a worthy addition to the beloved franchise filled with deceit, mystery, betrayal, scandal, and an expansion on the lore. It should be noted this review is based soley on the first four episodes of Dune: Prophecy.

Dune: Prophecy New York Comic Con Fan Experience & Panel

Dune: Prophecy hits the ground running from the very start of the first episode and never slows down. Set ten thousand years before the Dune films, this series follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.

Dune: Prophecy review

This series feels like the perfect blend of several different genres. It is mostly a political thriller, but it also has mystery, comedy, and even horror mixed in. Expanding on the well known lore, Dune: Prophecy pulls from the book, Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and other HBO properties, you are sure to love Dune: Prophecy. It very much gives off the same vibes, focusing heavily on politics while being unafraid to lean into nudity and sex.

Dune: Prophecy New York Comic Con Fan Experience & Panel

Each episode is more intriguing than the last. In an effort to remain spoiler free, I will not dive too much into the murder, betrayal, and mystery that is showcased, but I will say that it kept me on the edge of my seat.

Dune: Prophecy review

The series explores how the Bene Gesserit came to be, and why they are such powerful women. Learning about these women is empowering, to say the least. Dune: Prophecy adds a lot of context to the movies, especially for those who never read the books, like myself.

The sets and costumes fit right in with the rest of the franchise. There is no mistaking that this is part of the Dune world. Any time the voice is used my heart starts pounding because the sound design is so well done.

Dune: Prophecy New York Comic Con Fan Experience & Panel

Overall Thoughts

The first four episodes of Dune: Prophecy are incredible. Things get more and more insane and intriguing the longer it goes on. While there is mystery, there is also a lot of answers. This series is very much like House of the Dragon in that it feels like a political thriller at times, with everyone wanting to gain power, no matter what they have to do to get there.

The entire cast is incredible. Some are shockingly underused, but that is simply because of the key plot points that need to be hit along the way. Again, this review is based solely on the first four episodes of the season, so things could go off the rails and ruin came before it – but I do not see that happening.

For those who are not all in on the Dune franchise, Prophecy may be a bit difficult to get in to. This is very much emerced in the world and if you do not know much of the lore, you may find yourself lost.

Still, they do their best to explain more plot points so viewers will understand what is happening. For those who do love this world, you are in for a treat.

Dune: Prophecy review

While I would love to get into details, I do not want to spoil anything for those who do not know what is coming. What I will say is that this is a great exploration of how things came to be in the world of Dune. And I cannot wait to see where things go from here.

The six-episode season of Dune: Prophecy debuts SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. New episodes will debut subsequent Sundays.

NEXT: Dune: Prophecy Panel New York Comic-Con Panel Highlights

Dune: Prophecy poster

About Dune: Prophecy

From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit. 

Arcane Season 2 Confirms This Is A Perfect Series

Tessa Smith
-
2
Arcane Season 2 Confirms This Is A Perfect Series

Netflix’s Arcane season 2 is somehow even better than the first season – which was pure perfection. The visuals, story, acting, and music come together to create something truly special.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2 (L to R) Ella Purnell as Jinx and Hailee Steinfeld as Vi in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

Arcane Season 1 took the world by storm. League of Legends fans were thrilled to see some of their favorite characters get backstories, but even those who do not play the game quickly fell in love with them.

The stars aligned and viewers were given a perfect series, complete with stunning animation, a compelling story, powerful emotional beats, and a score that elevates every single scene.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

The first season of Arcane released in November 2021, so it has been three years since we last left Vi and Jinx. The world could have forgotten about them, but they did not. With a massive cliffhanger ending, fans waited years to find out what happened after Jinx attacked the Piltover Council – and I can promise, Arcane season 2 is well worth the wait.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Ella Purnell as Jinx in Arcane. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

Act 1 of Season 2 is streaming now on Netflix. It consists of three episodes. Another three will be released on November 16, and the final three of the entire series will drop on November 23.

This review is based on solely the first two acts, as Netflix is keeping the final three episodes close to their chest, and honestly, who can blame them? Sure, Act 3 might completely crumble and ruin the perfect series so far, but I highly doubt that will happen.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Katie Leung as Caitlyn in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

Arcane Season 2 Acts 1 and 2 are, for lack of a better word, epic. Somehow the creators behind this series raised the bar even more this time around.

The animation is absolutely gorgeous. The first time around it felt like nothing we had ever seen before. The use of textures and colors, brushstrokes, and changing styles back and forth, was beautiful, to say the least.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Hailee Steinfeld as Vi in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

In Arcane Season 2 they have evolved and elevated the visuals, taking them to a whole new level. They are still gorgeous, but more refined and unafraid to make bold choices, if that makes sense.

This is one of the best-looking animated television series to ever grace the small screen – and having seen the first act of season 2 in a movie theater, I can confirm, it holds up on a big screen too.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Hailee Steinfeld as Vi in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

One of my favorite things about Arcane Season 2 is the evolution of these characters that we know and love. Act 1 picks up immediately where we left off, allowing viewers to finally see the devastation left behind by Jinx’s attack.

It sees supporting characters step into leadership roles where needed, and it sees the sisters’ relationship absolutely crumble. It was on the brink is season 1, sure, but now it is too far gone to ever be repaired.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2. Reed Shannon as Ekko in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

The story heavily focuses on the Piltover-Zaun War, which we all knew was inevitable after the final moments of Arcane Season 1. Because of this, there is a lot of death and devastation.

Thankfully the creatives behind this series were unafraid to dive into what a war-stricken city looks like, and what it does to the people that live there. Things get heavy. Things get dark. And things get emotional.

Arcane Season 2 Review
Arcane Season 2 (L to R) Ella Purnell as Jinx and Hailee Steinfeld as Vi in Arcane Season 2. Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2024

There are a lot of scenes, especially the longer the series goes on, that will have some viewers tearing up. I both happy and sad cried at one point or another during each episode. As someone with a sister, and who has two daughters, anything between Vi and Jinx hits especially hard.

Arcane does everything right. It delivers on moments that fans have been waiting with bated breath for. The use of the score and songs is always perfectly timed, giving powerful meaning to the scenes they are included in and driving the plot forward.

Arcane Season 2 is unafraid to go there. It is unafraid to showcase what political discourse can do to the world and its people. All while being beautifully animated and helping to bring more lore to League of Legends fans.

NEXT: 10 Animated Series To Watch If You Love Hazbin Hotel

Arcane Season 2 Poster

About Arcane Season 2

In this final chapter, Jinx’s attack on the Council sets the stage for a dire escalation of the conflict between Piltover and Zaun.

Arcane Season 2 Release Dates:

  • ACT I – November 9
  • ACT II – November 16
  • ACT III – November 23

Stream Arcane on Netflix.

Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers Respond To Internet’s Thirst For Ken Sato

Tessa Smith
-
0
Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers Respond To Internet’s Thirst For Ken Sato

The Ultraman: Rising filmmakers respond to the internet’s immediate thirst for Ken Sato (Christopher Sean), also revealing that there is a sexy calendar.

Thirsting for animated characters is not a new thing. In fact, it happens more often than you might think. That said, when Ultraman: Rising was released on Netflix this past summer, the internet immediately fell in love with Ken Sato (voiced by Christopher Sean), and for good reason.

He is a handsome man, sure, but when his fatherly instincts kick in and he does everything in his power to protect Emi, that is when he really becomes attractive. During a press day at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the Ultraman: Rising filmmakers discuss their reactions to the internet’s thirst for Ken Sato, and reveal that there just might be a sexy Ken calendar made available soon.

Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers On Ken Sato Thirst

Ultraman: Rising Filmmakers Respond To Internet's Ken Sato Thirst
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

Ultraman: Rising VFX Supervisor Hayden Jones claims that the filmmakers were expecting the internet’s immediate thirst for Ken Sato because “obviously we’d seen Ken for probably two and a half years at that point.” He adds, “There was a lot of thirsting internally in the ILM team for Ken. Everyone loved Ken.”

Jones reveals that there is a Ken calendar that production made when they wrapped, calling it “brilliant” and says it ‘shows off Ken’s beauty in twelve monthly episodes.” 

If you are thinking you wish you were a member of the Ultraman: Rising team so that you could own one of those calendars, have no fear, writer/director Shannon Tindle claims that the sexy Ken calendar may actually be available to the broader public soon. He says that from the beginning he knew they needed to make one, especially after looking at the shot of him in the ice bath.

Ultraman: Rising Movie review
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

On bringing Ken to life, Jones explains “Obviously he has this amazing style of physique and a great amount of costume design. We had so many different costumes for Ken. He’s always incredibly well-dressed.” He claims to have known they might slightly blow up the internet with either Ken or Emi, and thankfully it was both.

Tindle admits to not knowing that the thirst was going to be as big as it has been. “We intentionally try to make him as sexy as we could, but I never expected it to be as big as it is. My daughter overheard friends talking about Ken who didn’t know that I made the movie, so that was pretty crazy.”

Ultraman: Rising Co-Director John Aoshima adds in that he loved the banter happening at the studio against other films made there. Claiming the animators were playfully arguing who has the thirstiest character. I don’t know about you, but I think Ken Sato wins that title all day, every day.

Ultraman: Rising Movie review
ULTRAMAN: RISING – When baseball superstar Ken Sato returns home to Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman, he quickly finds more than he bargained for as he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe. Cr: Netflix © 2024

Watch our full interviews with the filmmakers of Ultraman: Rising where they break down one of the most iconic shots of the film and discuss inspirations that were brought in from the Ultraman legacy.

Ultraman: Rising is now streaming on Netflix. Now is the perfect time to check it out if you have not already – or to revisit it if you have already watched it.

NEXT: Ultraman: Rising Delivers Stunning Animation & Important Themes

Ultraman: Rising Netflix movie poster

About Ultraman: Rising

With Tokyo under siege from rising monster attacks, baseball star Ken Sato reluctantly returns home to take on the mantle of Ultraman. But the titanic superhero meets his match when he is forced to adopt a 35-foot-tall, fire-breathing baby kaiju. Sato must rise above his ego to balance work and parenthood while protecting the baby from forces bent on exploiting her for their own dark plans.

In partnership with Netflix, Tsuburaya Productions, and Industrial Light & Magic, Ultraman: Rising is written by Shannon Tindle and Marc Haimes, directed by Shannon Tindle, and co-directed by John Aoshima.

Ultraman: Rising is now streaming on Netflix.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Review: Charming & Fun!

Tessa Smith
-
0
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Review: Charming & Fun!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a charming movie that demonstrates the true meaning of Christmas. The perfect family film to get ready for the holidays.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever review
Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman, Ewan Wood as Leroy Herdman, Lorelei Olivia Mote as Alice, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Molly Wright as Beth, Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie in Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allen Fraser

As soon as Halloween ends (and sometimes before) it is time to start celebrating Christmas. There is nothing quite as nice as the last couple of months of the year being about spreading love and cheer. We all need it. Especially now. That is why I dive into Christmas movies as soon as possible.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is a charming choice for families to get in the holiday mood. It focuses on the true meaning of Christmas, and by the end, you might even shed a tear or two (I sure did).

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever review
Judy Greer as Grace, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez as Charlie, Molly Wright as Beth, and Pete Holmes as Bob in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allen Fraser

This movie follows Grace (Judy Greer) who volunteers to direct the church’s Christmas pageant, vowing to make it the best ever. This quickly becomes a much bigger feat than she anticipated when the town miscreants, the Herdman kids, decide to join.

Put between a rock and a hard place when the other church members ask Grace to kick them out of the play, she opts to give the children the benefit of the doubt, hoping to teach them about the true meaning of Christmas along the way.

With leads like Judy Greer and Pete Holmes (who plays her husband Bob) it should come as no surprise at just how funny this movie is. Holmes is one of my favorite actors – if you have not yet watched Crashing, you are truly missing out – and I love the charm and humor he brings to this film.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever review
Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman, Mason Nelligan as Ralph Herdman, Matthew Lamb as Claude Herdman, Ewan Matthys Wood as Leroy Herdman, Essek Moore as Ollie Herdman and Kynlee Heiman as Gladys Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allen Fraser

That said, the group of young actors who play the Herdmans really steal the show. They each bring something unique and fun to the table, reminding me a bit of The Loud House. The message behind The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is that you should always lead with grace, no matter what you have heard about someone.

These are children, and for them to be treated the way they are by some of the church members is downright appalling. Grace takes her time with them, even when she is fed up with some of their antics, and is always there for them when they need it. She teaches them. She takes the time to answer their questions. And they are better off for it.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever review
Beatrice Schneider as Imogene Herdman and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allen Fraser

As a parent, this is the part of the movie that truly warms my heart. No kid is perfect – mine certainly aren’t – and I would hate for them to be judged off something they have done and never given the chance to make up for it.

Also, you never know what someone is going through personally, and why they are acting the way they are, unless you take the time to get to know them. To ask them. That is what makes the story here so special.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever review
Pete Holmes as Bob and Judy Greer as Grace in Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Photo Credit: Allan Fraser

For those who are worried this movie brings in too much about religion, it really doesn’t. I would not consider myself religious, and I rather enjoyed this movie. Sure, it talks about Jesus, but only when it comes to Christmas and the story the pageant is telling, which is fitting and makes sense. It is not shoving any views down your throat but just suggests that being nice and spreading love is a good thing. Something we could all use more of these days.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is the perfect length, clocking in at just over ninety minutes. The cast is incredible and the story is charming. It is a sweet, fun, and charming movie that is the perfect start to the holiday season.

NEXT: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl Review: It’s Charming!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever poster

About The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, they steal, they bully… and now they’ve hijacked the town Christmas pageant.

Directed by Dallas Jenkins (“The Chosen”) and based on the international bestseller by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER follows six siblings who sneak into church searching for snacks and walk away with the lead roles in the town pageant.

Grace (Judy Greer) is directing the performance for the very first time; she and her daughter Beth (Molly Belle Wright) and husband Bob (Pete Holmes) are in over their heads, especially against a town that wants them to kick the Herdmans out. But the play’s mischievous stars might unwittingly teach a community the true meaning of Christmas.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be released In Theaters on November 8th. 

Emilia Pérez Review: A Captivating & Emotional Must See

Tessa Smith
-
0
Emilia Pérez Review: A Captivating & Emotional Must See

Emilia Pérez boasts three incredible lead actresses, captivating musical performances, and an extremely emotional story.

Emilia Perez Review
Emilia Pérez. Zoe Saldaña as Rita Moro Castro in Emilia Pérez. Cr. Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA © 2024.

Emilia Pérez is a lot of genres mashed into one, but not in a way that becomes too much or too convoluted. It is a crime thriller, it is a musical, and it is a redemption story. To say this movie surprised me is an understatement. I went into it not really knowing what to expect but was very happy that I saw it on the big screen. With three incredible lead performances and impressive musical numbers that play like a stage show, this movie is a spectacle in the best way.

Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, and Selena Gomez impress over and over again, each bringing something unique and captivating to this heartwarming story. When a terrifying crime boss (Gascón) is finally able to realize her true self thanks to the help of Rita (Saldaña). she must leave behind her wife and her children, something that proves a lot easier said than done.

Emilia Perez Review
Emilia Pérez. (Featured) Selena Gomez as Jessi in Emilia Pérez. Cr. PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA.

Emilia Pérez is unapologetically itself, much like the title character. One of the most touching things about this film is that it never, not once, uses the word Trans, yet tells the incredibly brave story that is sure to inspire many viewers. As an ally, I cannot relate or speak to the authenticity of this story, but I can appreciate how it is unafraid to fully dive in.

The musical numbers in this film play out like a stage show. Everything takes a step back, allowing the singing, dancing, and performances to shine. All three female leads are phenomenal during these sequences. The entire story is powerful, but these moments especially are sure to stick with audiences for a while.

Emilia Perez Review
Emilia Pérez. (L-R) Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez and Adriana Paz as Epifanía in Emilia Pérez. Cr. Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA © 2024.

The overall message of Emilia Pérez is redemption. Pérez was a ruthless cartel leader and did some awful things before she was able to fully become who she always knew she was. It is in these moments that she tries, more than anything, to make up for her past and her bad deeds, but doing good ones.

This is touching and heartwarming, however, it is difficult to run from your past successfully, making the final moments of this film anxiety-driven and — without spoilers — hard to watch at times. It is shocking, emotional, and moved me to tears.

Emilia Perez Review
Emilia Pérez. Selena Gomez as Jessi in Emilia Pérez. Cr. Shanna Besson/PAGE 114 – WHY NOT PRODUCTIONS – PATHÉ FILMS – FRANCE 2 CINÉMA © 2024.

That said, Emilia Pérez is not perfect. It is a little too long, with a few places that it certainly could have been tightened up. The film clocks in at two hours and twelve minutes, but I believe it would have been just as impactful, if not more so, at just under two hours. Because of the length, the heavy topics, and having a lot of dialogue at times, the movie does drag here and there.

Overall, however, Emilia Pérez is a powerful and inspirational movie. It is intriguing and captivating with musical numbers that will have viewers enthralled. The cinematography is astounding. It might not be perfect, but it is something truly special.

Three incredible lead performances, some truly breathtaking musical numbers, and a story that champions the ability to be able to change and make up for past mistakes, this movie is unapologetically itself – much like Emilia.

NEXT: What The Wild Robot 2 Will Be About: Plot Details

Emilia Perez Poster

About Emilia Perez

From renegade auteur Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations.

Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each pursuing their own happiness.

The fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an unappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as her true self.

Emilia Perez comes to select theaters on November 1 and Netflix on November 13.

What The Wild Robot 2 Will Be About: Plot Details

Tessa Smith
-
0
What The Wild Robot 2 Will Be About: Plot Details

The Wild Robot filmmakers, composer, and author tease The Wild Robot 2, plus breakdown key The Wild Robot scenes, in this interview.

The Wild Robot is a trilogy of books, so the option for The Wild Robot 2 (and The Wild Robot 3) is there. In speaking with author Peter Brown about his second book, The Wild Robot Escapes, he teases what The Wild Robot 2 would look like.

The Wild Robot Review: A Beautiful & Touching Film

What Would The Wild Robot 2 Be About?

Peter Brown: The first book is about Roz learning to survive in the wilderness and developing all these surprising relationships and family and friends, and really a home for herself in the wilderness. The second book, The Wild Robot Escapes is about Roz finding herself in civilization, which is where she was meant to be around. People and technology and other robots, but she’s still wild on the inside.

So she has to walk this line of not letting her true self out, because if people realize that she could speak with animals, and she’s lived in the wilderness, and she’s had a family and friends, they’ll probably think there’s something wrong with her, and they’ll want to reprogram her.

The Wild Robot Review: A Beautiful & Touching Film

So she’s really stuck living between these two worlds and trying to figure out if she can get back to the wilderness the place that feels like home to her. Where does she really belong? These are the big themes of the second book, The Wild Robot Escapes.

And so, of course, we’re really hoping, even Chris Sanders, the director, and Jeff Herman, the producer, are hoping that they’ll get the green light to make the second movie because I think they want to explore a lot of those juicy subjects in the film.

The Wild Robot Fantastic Fest 2024
(from left) Roz (Lupita N’yongo) and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation’s Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders.

Be sure to watch our full interview with The Wild Robot filmmakers to learn about their inspirations and the breakdown of key scenes.

Participating in The Wild Robot interviews are:

  • Chris Sanders (Director) & Jeff Hermann (Producer)
  • Peter Brown (New York Times bestselling Author, The Wild Robot)
  • Kris Bowers (Composer)

The Wild Robot is now available on digital to watch at home!

The Wild Robot movie poster

About The Wild Robot

Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

NEXT: The Wild Robot Review: A Beautiful & Touching Film

1...747576...520Page 75 of 520